Germ-arrester for mouthpieces of telephones, speaking-tubes, &amp;c.



No. 65|,|79. Patented June 5, |900.

' C. J. BRANCH. GERM AR'HES'TER FOR MUUTHPIECES 0F TELEPHONES, SPEAKING TUBES, &c.,

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1899.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. BRANCH, OF PHILAIDE-LPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GERM-ARRESTER FOR MOUTHPIECES 0F TELEPHONES, SPEAKING-TUBES, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,179, dated June 5, 1900. Application filed November 21, 1899. Serial No. 737,731. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, t may concern: y

Be it known that I, CHARLES J ULIUS BRANCH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in

the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Germ-Arresters for Mouthpieces of Telephones, Speaking- Tubes, dac., which improvement is fully set;

of paper or other germ-arresting material in' proximity to the mouthpiece and means being' also provided for propelling said paper or other material across said mouthpiece, ac-

cording to requirements.

It also consists of means for enabling the paper or material which has been used to be readily torn off or detached from the apparatus.

It also consists in novel means of supporting the material employed and the frictional device for retarding its rotation.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

. Figure l represents a side elevation of a germ-arrester for mouthpieces of telephones, speaking-tubes, dac., embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a section on line xx, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the upper right-hand portion of Fig. l, showing the frictional device-for retarding the rotation of the roll carrying the germ-arresting material. of a modified construction vof the lowerportion of Fig. l. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of a portion of the upper part of Fig. l, showing the frictional retarding device for the roll carrying the germ-arresting material. Fig. 6 represents a perspective View of the devices supportin g the roll of germ-arresting material. l

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the Fig. et represents a side elevation mouthpiece of a telephone, speaking-tube, or

similar device, the same being supported in any usual or convenient manner.

B designates a plate supported on the mouthpiece in any suitable manner and having the upper projecting arms C, in which-is suitably journaled a supply or roll of paper or other germ-arresting materialD,whiclihas its trunnions or journals E located in suitable bearings in said arms and held in position by means of the resilient strips F, which are pivotally attached to said arms and are.

adapted to spring into recesses Gr, whereby said strips are held in frictional contact with the adjacent journal E and prevent the latter from rotating too freely. i

vII designates a'roll mounted in the arms C adjacent to the roll of material D, over which the'continuous strip J passes, the latter eX- tending across the mouthpiece A and down between the frictional rolls K and L, which latter are mounted in suitable bearings in the lower arms M, the strip of material J after passing through said rollers passing over the strip having the knife-edge N, at which point it can be readily severed, as will be apparent.

The rotation of the rolls K and L is eected by means of the pinions P, the shaft of one of the rollers Kbeing extended and provided with a handle Q or similar operating device.

' I do not desire to be limited in every instance to the exact construction of the gear- `ing or pinions P, since it will be apparent that other devices may be employed for effecting the rotation of the rollers K and L without departing from thespirit of my invention, it being apparent that, if desired, a single lever may be employed, whereby one movement thereof would suffice to propel the joined to the strip N and extending upwardly therefrom and being held in position in any suitable manner, as by the journals of the rollers L and I-I. The upper portions of the strips T are provided with openings U, through which the upper journals W of the upper roll H pass, said journals being engaged by the thumb-nuts X. It will thus be seen that the distance between the rolls II and K can be varied by bringing the arms G and M toward or away from each other, which can be readily effected by removing the thumb-nuts X and inserting the journals W in the desired openings U of the strip T.

In Fig. (i I have shown a convenient means for supporting the roll of germ-arresting material, the roll D being monnted'on a sleeve Y, which is adapted to be slipped upon the spindle Z, which latter has a key or shoulder roll of germ-arresting materialD can be readily removed or replaced in position by turning the strips F into the position seen in Fig. 5, after which a new roll of material carried by the sleeve Y can be readily inserted in place, `as will be understood from said Fig. 6. f

`I desire to lay especial emphasis on the fact that I employ a continuous strip of germ-arresting material, said material being wax-paper or paper treated with any suitable disinfe'ctant or aromatic material, or perfumed, if

desired. I have found by experiment that my invention applied to a telephone-mouthpiece does not retard or diminish the sound, but, on the contrary, the sound is augmented by the use of my invention. It will thus be seen that by my invention provision is made for enabling the user of the telephone to expose a fresh surface of arresting material each time the telephone is used. The liability of infection from contagious diseases which are transmitted by germs is consequently entirely obviated.

The apparatus can be cheaply constructed and applied to existing telephones without necessitating any change in the construction of the same, and it will be apparent that various devices may be employed for supporting the supply of material and for causing its propulsion across the mouthpiece other than what I have disclosed, and I do not therefore desire to be limited in every instance to the exact construction I have herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a mouthpiece of a telephone,'of a roll of paper or similar material supported in proximity thereto, and

means for propelling a strip of said material across said mouthpiece.

2. The combination with a mouthpiece of a roll of material located in proximity thereto, tension devices for said roll, and devices for propelling a strip ot' said material across said mouthpiece.

3. The combination with a mouthpiece of a telephone of a plate having upper and lower arms projecting therefrom, a roll of suitable material mounted in said upper arms and propelling devices for said material mounted in said lower arms.

Lt. The combination with a mouthpiece of a telephone of upper and lower arms supported thereby, a rollof paper or other suitable material supported in one set of said arms, tension devices for said roll, a plurality of rolls `supported in theV other set of said arms for propelling said paper across said mouthpiece and means for operating` said rolls.

5. The combination with a telephonemouthpiece, of a supply of germ-arresting material located in proximity thereto, means for propelling a strip of said material across said mouthpiece and cutting devices for enabling the removal of said material after use.

G. The combination with a mouthpiece of upper and lower arms suitably supported, strips common to said arms, means for adjusting the distance of said arms with respect to each other, a supplyoi" germ-arresting material, and means for propelling said material across said mouthpiece.

7. The combination with a mouthpiece, of a supply of germ arresting material, and means for propelling said material across said mouthpiece.

8. The combination with a mouthpiece, of upper and lower arms suitably supported, a roll of germ-arresting material mounted in one set of said arms,propelling devices for said material, and tension devices for retarding the rotation of said material.

CHARLES J. BRANCH;

lVitnesses:

WM. OANER WIEDERSHEIM, E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS.

IOO 

